Jim Braddock Retains Storm Championship After Brutal Assault on Tommy Hawkins
The IWRA Storm Men’s Championship was on the line as reigning champion Jim Braddock defended his title against Tommy Hawkins in a match filled with intensity, history, and ultimately, controversy. These two warriors have clashed multiple times over the years, both in singles competition and tag team battles, but on this night, their rivalry reached new levels of brutality.
A Prematch Ambush
Before Tommy Hawkins even had a chance to enter the ring, Jim Braddock launched a vicious assault from behind, using the championship belt as a weapon to knock his challenger to the floor. The champion wasted no time, stomping on Tommy and attempting to drag him up, but Tommy fought back with a swift kick, knocking Jim backward. What followed was a furious barrage of strikes from Tommy, who refused to let the ambush define his night. The former Forge Champion leaped onto Jim multiple times, unleashing his frustration, before throwing him into the ring.
Circling the ring, Tommy prepared to enter, but Jim had other plans. The champion dove through the ropes, tackling Tommy to the ground outside. Both men scrambled to their feet, but Tommy was a step ahead, rocking Jim backward with a precise punch before taking him down with an electrifying hurricanrana.
Tommy’s Aerial Assault
With Jim down, Tommy put his high-flying offense on display, delivering a relentless series of moonsaults onto his opponent. However, on his fifth attempt, Jim managed to get his knees up, causing Tommy to crash and roll to the side, winded from the impact. Seizing the moment, Jim threw Tommy back into the ring and climbed in after him, but Tommy had already recovered, launching another attack before sending Jim crashing into the turnbuckles.
Tommy signalled for one of his signature moves, the Fly-by. Wrapping Jim in the ropes, Tommy slid beneath him, yanking the champion backward and slamming him onto the mat. Wasting no time, Tommy hit his devastating finisher, the Crash Landing, and covered Jim for what seemed like the inevitable three-count. But at the very last second, Jim kicked out, defying all expectations and frustrating Tommy in the process.
Braddock Brothers Strike Again
Determined to put the champion away, Tommy climbed the ropes, preparing for another high-risk manoeuvre. As Jim staggered to his feet, Tommy launched himself, hitting a hurricanrana that seamlessly transitioned into a pinning combination. The crowd held its breath as the referee counted—one, two—but somehow, Jim kicked out yet again.
Refusing to let up, Tommy delivered two more moonsaults and looked to end the match once and for all. But Jim Braddock always has a trick up his sleeve, and this time, it came in the form of his brother, Zac Braddock. Bursting into the ring, Zac blindsided referee John Cole, driving a punch into his spine before tossing him to the outside.
With no official in the ring, Zac turned his attention to Tommy, pulling him off Jim and delivering a ruthless beatdown. He pummelled Tommy into the mat, refusing to let up until John Cole managed to pull him away. However, the damage was done. As Cole officially called off the match, Jim and Zac celebrated their underhanded tactics, revelling in the chorus of boos from the crowd.
Not content with their attack, Jim retrieved a steel chair from beneath the ring and handed it to Zac, who chased off John Cole before slamming the chair down onto Tommy’s already battered body. Then, in a final act of dominance, Zac handed the chair to his brother, allowing Jim to deliver his own punishing chair shot.
The Braddock Brothers stood tall over Tommy Hawkins, their championship reign preserved not through skill or honour, but through calculated brutality and interference. With Tommy Hawkins left broken in the ring, the question remains: will he get another shot at Jim Braddock, or will the champion continue to hide behind his brother’s interference?
